One of the frequent questions, and source for ignorant conjecture, to come up after the Wednesday arrest of the ironically named Lucky Jackson was about the amount of his bond.

Charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and driving under the influence for the Sept. 12 crash that killed 19-year-old Jordan White, Jackson turned himself in to Columbia County authorities Wednesday morning and later was released on bonds totalling $13,400.

Why so low? many people asked. Some took it a step further to contend that Jackson benefited from some “lucky” connections.

How many times do we need to see this same plot before we figure out how the movie ends?

A homeowner in a neighborhood fails to live up to the civil agreement that governs the community, and then complains that the community’s governing body is picking on him or her. The community comes out looking like the bad guy just for trying to make sure everyone plays by the same rules.

It’s official: Lee Anderson’s staffers have decided he has more to gain from avoiding debates with John Barrow than he has to lose from being seen ducking them.

We suspected as much on the night of the runoff. Anderson’s posse surrounded him during his victory party, keeping reporters away from the eventual winner and allowing him to speak to the gathered supporters only when hustled out, kept on script and then whisked away.

One of the saddest bits of news I’ve seen in a while was an announcement last week from the office of Secretary of State Brian Kemp.

To comply with an order from the governor’s Office of Planning and Budget to cut spending by $730,000, Kemp will lay off most employees of the state archives and close the facility to the general public on Nov. 1.

The Georgia Public Policy Foundation would like to congratulate the schools of the Columbia County school system for what publisher Barry L. Paschal describes as one of the “communities with the best schools” (column, Sept. 12). It’s commendable that your system’s faculty and staff are committed to providing students with an opportunity for academic excellence.

It turns out that’s not necessarily a bad thing – especially for Columbia County.

Boring, see, is also stable. And decidedly un-whacko.

Want to see the opposite? Millions apparently do, flocking to cable TV to gawk at such reality show nonsense as Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo, a spinoff of the atrocious Toddlers in Tiaras, providing a warped view of rural life, child exploitation and spoiled brat behavior.

We never know when or where emergencies or disasters are going to happen – which is why it is so important to take action now to make sure your family is prepared for the worst.

How do you prepare?

• Assemble an emergency supply kit with everything you need to survive on your own after an emergency for at least 72 hours. This means having food, water and other supplies sufficient for your family and pets.

Depending on the scope of the disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately.